Page:Daniel Minort Baxter - Bishop Richard Allen and His Spirit (1923).pdf/75

Rh lighted were to put it in darkness—for they were to choose a dark night for the attack. Those who kept the fire apparatus were to refuse to answer the bell for any call of fire; while at a certain hour all the house servants were to set the houses on fire and to slay the white people as they arose from their beds in confusion; the attack was to be at midnight, sentinels were to watch to cut off all communication from the outside at the time the signal would be given; in this way they were to strike such a stunning blow to the horrible slavery system, that the slave lords would be uneasy all over the world, not again trusting to have slaves any where. Grandfather said one, met with the Negroes until their plans were all perfected, but just before they got ready strike the blow, he went and told to the white people and betrayed the Negroes. Terrible was the vengeance wrought on the whole race, twenty-two were hung, scores were beaten and put in jail—just like today when one Negro commits a crime they hold the whole race responsible for it. This was kept as the identifying censor, and any one he said was present at the meeting was